ABSTRACT
Eating disorders are characterised by severe disturbances in eating behaviour. They are serious conditions that can be life threatening so it is essential they are recognised and treated as early as possible. For this reason, it is important that teachers have an awareness of such conditions. In addition, there is a lot that school staff can do to educate children about good eating habits and prevent the development of eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the two eating disorders most likely to be encountered by teachers. There is controversy as to whether obesity should be classified as an eating disorder, but it is touched on briefly in this chapter because of its increasing incidence and its relevance to teachers.
